Broad web projection display apparatus



y 8, 1951 A. c. GILES 2,551,797

BROAD WEB PROJECTION DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

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Dam/M (z May 8, 1951 A. c. GILES BROAD WEB PROJECTION DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1949 A. C. GILES BROAD WEB PROJECTION DISPLAY APPARATUS May 8, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 2, 1949 AWNWN Patented May 8, 1951 BROAD WEB PROJECTION DISPLAY APPARATUS Aquila C. Giles, New York, N. Y., assignor to Trans-Lux Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application March 2, 1949, Serial No. 79,250

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved broad web display apparatus and especially an apparatus suitable for use in television studios and broadcasting stations.

It is an object of the invention to furnish an apparatus especially useful in video broadcasting and by means of which messages such as news releases, bulletins, and other imprinted matter may be displayed either singly or in combination with various other images such as a pattern for a given broadcast channel, a background picture, or other desired display; the present invention also permitting of the sole display of such background, pattern, etc, without the use of imprinting displays.

A further object is that of furnishing a simple apparatus which will operate with a minimum of manual supervision and which, moreover, will function over long periods of time with freedom from all difiiculties.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheets of drawings illustrating practical embodiments of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side levation of a display apparatus;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 and in the direction of the arrows as indicated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the lines 33 and in the direction of the arrows as indicated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts adjusted to a diiierent position;

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken along th lines 55 and 66 respectively as shown in Fig.

4 and in the direction of the arrows indicated in that figure; and

Fig. 7 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing an alternative form of construction.

Referring primarily to Fig. l, the numeral it indicates a printing apparatus such as an automatic typewriter mechanism which may be controlled by a transmitter which sends electrical impulses to the printer !0 in accordance with perforations formed in a tape which is fed through the transmitter. Such imprinting apparatus is well known and is commonly utilized by the news services and others to imprint upon a broad web. At I I there is indicated a support ing frame upon which is mounted a lamp housing l2 containing a lamp 13 or other suitable source of illumination. Light rays from the latter are projected into housing l4 with which there may be associated a lens assembly l5. As shown in Fig. 1 the objective lens is disposed to extend at right angles to the body of the apparatus supported upon the frame I I To this end, housing I l may contain an angularly disposed mirror (not shown). As will be apparent the objective lens i 5 might extend in any desired direction and, for example, in line with the longitudinal axis of the assembly in which case no reflecting mirror will be necessary. As will additionally be understood suitable condensing lenses are conveniently disposed in advance of the source of illumination in accordance with well known projection techniques.

The web to be imprinted has been indicated at it and extends from the unit It over guides or rollers H mounted by the machine through supports 18. In accordance with the teachings of the present invention this web is formed of clear cellophane or similar material. It is guided in a manner hereinafter described to extend forwardly of the lamp housing 12 and passes in operative relationship with respect to a feed roller IQ and thence over one or more guides IT to a receiving roll 20. The latter may be driven by a spring belt 2i from a motor 22. The belt is driven through a reduction assembly which-es shown-may form a part of the motor unit. Likewise driven by this assembly is a flexible shaft 23 which may mount at its outer end a worm and worm wheel drive 24 serving to rotate the feed roller i9.

While the motor 22 may be continuously operating it is preferred that some form of control be associated with the same so that it may, for example, function at a speed proportionate to the rate of feed of the web [6 from the unit It. For the purpose of simplifying the illustration, that imprinting unit has been shown as located relatively remotely from the projecting station which is hereinafter described. As will be appreciated the parts may be so disposed that the web substantially immediately after leaving the imprinting mechanism may pass through the station. In any event, it is preferred to provide for slack in the web so that a printed reserve of the same may be established. This is conveniently accomplished by employing a roller or reel 25 of suitable Weight which rides within a loop of the web 16 in advance of the projection station.

Now with regards to the projection station, attention is primarily directed to Figs. 2 and 3 in which it will be seen that the forward face defining this station and guiding the web I6, is conveniently provided by a smooth-surfaced plate 28. This plate is arranged at the outer end of a casing 21 which may contain one or more of the condensing lenses indicated at 28. Casing 2? may mount upon its side walls bored hubs which slidably receive pins 30 conveniently grooved as indicated at 3!. Associated with these pins and acting against the same and extensions 32 of the casing 21, are springs 33 which thus normally maintain the pins in retracted position. A wall, 34, extends across the forward end of casing 27 and is supported by the pins 38. This wall lies to the rear of and is spaced from an outer wall 35 in the plane of which the plate 26 is disposed. These several parts are secured against movement with respect to each other. It therefore follows that according to whether the pins 30 are retracted or projected the guideway defined between walls 3435 will be similarly projected or retracted.

A retracted position of the assembly has been illustrated in Fig. 3. The projected position of the same has been shown in Fig. 4. In that view it will be apparent that catches extend into the grooves or notches 3! of the pins 30 to maintain them in projected position. These catches, as shown especially in Figs. 5 and 6, may take the form of levers 36 pivotally supported as at 3'! and acted upon by springs 38. The latter tend to urge them into notch-engaging positions. It is apparent that the assembly may be projected from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4 by, for example, merely pushing, against the inner ends of pins 39. Under these circumstances and as the pins ride forwardly, the latches or levers automatically drop into pinarresting positions. Conversely, when it is desired to return the parts to their initial positions, this may be achieved by simply lifting upwardly on the levers as shown in Fig. 5. Thereupon as soon as they clear the notches the springs 33 will cause a retraction of the pins and the assembly supported thereby.

Shiftable longitudinally of the guideway defined by the spaced walls 3 t35, is a slide. These walls may be maintained in spaced relationship by projections 39. The slidewhich has been indicated by the reference numeral 40may present openings or compartments 4| within one or both of which indicia-carrying plates 42' may be disposed. Each such plate may bear upon its face any suitable background-such as an acceptable pattern, lettering identifying a broadcasting station, a scene in the form of a picture or cartoon, etc. etc. Normally one of the compartments of the slide 60 will not be occupied by such a panel so that when that compartment is in registry with the masking opening as defined by plate 28, the light rays will not be even partially obstructed. When a plate of this nature is within the projection station it will be over-laid by the web It passing over the outer surface of plate 26; it being observed that the edges of that plate may be slightly rounded if desired to provide guiding surfaces. As shown especially in Fig. 6, the lower edge of plate 52 may be supported within a channel member 43. The upper edges of the members defining the slide 40 may be notched as indicated at 44 in line with the compartments so that the plate or plates may be replaced as necessary.

With the apparatus set up as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, it is apparent that as the printer it operates the motor 2?. will draw the web towards reel 28 and past the projection station. A reserve of printed web may be established by the slack roller 25 or any functionally equivalent provision. In any event, the web in moving past the projection station will pass over plate 25. The latter will be maintained in retracted position by the springs 33. Therefore, the web it in passing through this station will be in proper focal relationship with respect to the condensing and objective lens assemblies as well as with respect to the mosaic of the television camera into which the objective lens projects the light rays. 0f equal importance is the fact that the light image thus projected will be of a definite and pro-determined size so that no difficulties will be experienced in the broadcasting of the television images. With the cessation of operation of the printer ill or the registry of a clear or blank portion of the web it with the projection station, slide to may be shifted L0 bring the panel 32 into registry with the projection aperture. As afore brought out, the shifted position will be maintained by the latch structure.

Under these circumstances, the parts will be disposed as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. In those views the transparent panel 42 is in the same plane as that heretofore occupied by the web IS. Therefore, the proper projection relationship of the matter upon the slide and the mosaic of the receiving camera will be maintained. As is obvious, the imprinted web It might pass over the projection aperture at the same time that the slide 42 is in registry therewith. Under these circumstances it is definitely preferred that the parts be returned to the position shown in Figs. 1 to 3. Under these circumstances the irnprinted matter will be in sharp focus or registry with respect to the mosaic of the camera and the back ground (comprising either pictorial representations, indicia, test patterns, etc.) will not be as sharply defined. However, a recognizable background will be provided.

As somewhat diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 7, the same results may be achieved by alternative forms of apparatus. Thus, in latter figure, the numeral 45 indicates the objective lens assembly which is normally urged in a pre-determined direction by means of a spring 65. A cam may serve to shift the lens assembly Q5 and also maintain the same in one of two different pie-determined positions. With the lens assembly properly related to the planes occupied by the web l6 and panel 42 at the projection station, it is apparent that according to the position of the cam 47 the light image projected on the mosaic of the camera will have sharp definition and be of proper area regardless of whether it is desired to project the image upon plate 42 or the imprinting upon the web. Also, as previously described, a simultaneous reproduction of both of the surfaces of these elements may be secured.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically afore noted are achieved. Obviously numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. A display apparatus including in combination means for imprinting a web, means providing a projection station, means for guiding said web past said station, means forming a part of said guiding means and shiftable laterally with respect to such station to correspondingly move the web portion supported by said laterally shiftable means and to transfer that web portion into and out of proper focal relationship with respect to lenses disposed adjacent said station, further guiding means adjacent said station for supporting a second indicia-bearing element in operative relationship with respect thereto and means coupling said further guiding mean with said laterally shiftable means whereby as said latter means is shifted out of focal relationship, said further guiding means will occupy a plane in proper focal relationship.

2. A display apparatus including in combination means for imprinting a web, means providing a projection station, means for guiding said web past said station, means forming a part of said guiding means and shiftable laterally with respect to such station to correspondingly move the web portion supported by said laterally shiftable means and to transfer that web portion into and out of proper focal relationship with respect to lenses disposed adjacent said station, further guiding means adjacent said station for supporting a second indicia-bearing element in operative relationship with respect thereto, means coupling said further guiding means with said laterally shiftable means whereby as said latter means is shifted out of focal relationship, said further guiding means will occupy a plane in proper focal relationship and spring means for normally urging said shiftable means into a predetermined position.

AQUILA C. GILES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

